Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has stable electric characteristics is provided. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has excellent on-state characteristics is also provided. A semiconductor device in which an oxide semiconductor film having low resistance is formed and the resistance of a channel region of the oxide semiconductor film is increased. Note that an oxide semiconductor film is subjected to a process for reducing the resistance to have low resistance. The process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film may be a laser process or heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., for example. A process for increasing the resistance of the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance may be performed by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oxide semiconductor film, a method for forming the oxide semiconductor film, a semiconductor device, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device.

Note that in this specification, a semiconductor device refers to any device that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics, and an electro-optical device, a semiconductor circuit, an electronic device, and the like are all semiconductor devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

A technique for forming a transistor by using a semiconductor film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface has attracted attention. The transistor is applied to a wide range of semiconductor devices such as an integrated circuit and a display device. A silicon film is known as a semiconductor film applicable to a transistor.

Whether an amorphous silicon film or a polycrystalline silicon film is used as a silicon film in a transistor depends on the purpose. For example, in the case of a transistor included in a large-sized display device, it is preferred to use an amorphous silicon film, which can be formed using the established technique for forming a film on a large-sized substrate. On the other hand, in the case of a transistor included in a high-performance display device where driver circuits are formed over the same substrate, it is preferred to use a polycrystalline silicon film, which can form a transistor having a high field-effect mobility. As a method for forming a polycrystalline silicon film, high-temperature heat treatment or a laser process which is performed on an amorphous silicon film has been known.

Further, in recent years, an oxide semiconductor film has attracted attention. For example, a transistor which includes an amorphous oxide film containing indium, gallium, and zinc and having a carrier density less than 10¹⁸/cm³ is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

An oxide semiconductor film can be formed by a sputtering method, and thus is suitable for a transistor in a large-sized display device. Moreover, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has a high field-effect mobility; therefore, a high-performance display device where driver circuits are formed over the same substrate can be obtained. In addition, there is an advantage that capital investment can be reduced because part of production equipment for a transistor including an amorphous silicon film can be retrofitted and utilized.

In addition, according to Patent Document 2, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film can have an extremely low off-state current and can be favorably used for a semiconductor integrated circuit owing to such a low off-state current.

As a method for providing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film with stable electric characteristics, a technique for doping an oxide semiconductor film with oxygen is disclosed (see Patent Document 3). With the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, the impurity concentration and oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film can be reduced. As a result, variation in electric characteristics of the transistor including the oxide semiconductor film can be reduced and reliability can be improved.

A technique for reducing contact resistance by providing a buffer layer having low resistance between a source electrode (or a drain electrode) and the oxide semiconductor film to improve the on-state characteristics of a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film is also disclosed (see Patent Document 4).

REFERENCE Patent Documents

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No.     2006-165528 -   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Published Patent Application No.     2011-151377 -   [Patent Document 3] Japanese Published Patent Application No.     2011-243976 -   [Patent Document 4] Japanese Published Patent Application No.     2011-9724

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object is to provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has stable electric characteristics.

Another object is to provide a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which has excellent on-state characteristics.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which an oxide semiconductor film having low resistance is formed and the resistance of a channel region of the oxide semiconductor film is increased.

Note that an oxide semiconductor film is subjected to a process for reducing the resistance to have low resistance. The process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film may be a laser process or heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., for example.

Specifically, the heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C. may be performed in an inert gas atmosphere or under reduced pressure.

The laser process may be performed specifically with an excimer laser which emits light having an emission wavelength of 308 nm and an energy density greater than or equal to 100 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 600 mJ/cm², preferably greater than or equal to 200 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 500 mJ/cm², further preferably greater than or equal to 250 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 400 mJ/cm². The conditions of the laser process are not limited to the above conditions.

With the laser process or the heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., the impurity concentration of the oxide semiconductor film can be reduced and an oxygen vacancy can be formed. In addition, the crystallinity of the oxide semiconductor film is improved. As a result, an oxide semiconductor film having low resistance can be obtained.

A process for increasing the resistance of the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance may be performed by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions, for example.

The oxide semiconductor film having low resistance has low impurity concentration and has many oxygen vacancies. Accordingly, the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance can be increased by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions for reducing oxygen vacancies. An oxide semiconductor film having high resistance which is obtained in such a manner is an oxide semiconductor film having low impurity concentration and few oxygen vacancies. In other words, sources of generating carriers and the like in such an oxide semiconductor film are extremely reduced. Thus, a transistor including such an oxide semiconductor film has extremely low off-state current and stable electric characteristics.

The resistance of a region which is not subjected to the process for increasing the resistance remains low. Thus, a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film has low parasitic resistance and has excellent on-state characteristics.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following steps: forming an oxide semiconductor film over a substrate having an insulating surface; forming a pair of electrodes over the oxide semiconductor film after performing a process for reducing a resistance of the oxide semiconductor film; forming a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film and the pair of electrodes after performing a process for increasing a resistance of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which does not overlap with the pair of electrodes; and forming a gate electrode over the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film therebetween.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following steps: forming an oxide semiconductor film over a substrate having an insulating surface; forming a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film after performing a process for reducing a resistance of the oxide semiconductor film; forming a sacrificial layer overlapping with a part of the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film therebetween; forming a first insulating film over the sacrificial layer; forming a second insulating film which does not cover a part of the gate insulating film; forming a conductive film over the gate insulating film and the second insulating film after performing a process for increasing a resistance of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which does not overlap with the second insulating film; and forming a gate electrode by processing the conductive film so that a top surface of the second insulating film is exposed and a top surface of the processed conductive film is substantially flush with the top surface of the second insulating film. The second insulating film is formed in the following manner: a part of the first insulating film is removed so that a part of a top surface of the sacrificial layer is exposed and a top surface of the first insulating film is substantially flush with the part of the top surface of the sacrificial layer; a part of the sacrificial layer and a part of the rest of the first insulating film are removed so that a whole top surface of the sacrificial layer is exposed and a top surface of the sacrificial layer is substantially flush with a top surface of the first insulating film; and the sacrificial layer whose whole top surface is exposed is removed.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following steps: forming a gate electrode over a substrate having an insulating surface; forming a gate insulating film over the gate electrode; forming an oxide semiconductor film over the gate electrode with the gate insulating film therebetween; forming a pair of electrodes over the oxide semiconductor film after performing a process for reducing a resistance of the oxide semiconductor film; and performing a process for increasing a resistance of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which does not overlap with the pair of electrodes.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a gate electrode, a gate insulating film in contact with the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film overlapping with the gate electrode with the gate insulating film therebetween, and a pair of electrodes over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. A crystallinity of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which overlaps with the pair of electrodes, is higher than a crystallinity of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which does not overlap with the pair of electrodes.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor film, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, and a gate electrode over the oxide semiconductor film with the gate insulating film therebetween. A crystallinity of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which does not overlap with the gate electrode, is higher than a crystallinity of a region of the oxide semiconductor film, which overlaps with the gate electrode.

A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film having reduced impurities and few oxygen vacancies can have stable electric characteristics.

A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film having low parasitic resistance can have excellent on-state characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1C are a top view and cross-sectional views which illustrate an example of a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are a top view and cross-sectional views which illustrate an example of a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are a top view and cross-sectional views which illustrate an example of a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a circuit diagram and a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are circuit diagrams of semiconductor devices of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are a circuit diagram and a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are circuit diagrams of a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device, and FIG. 15D is a graph showing electric characteristics of the semiconductor device.

FIG. 16A is a circuit diagram of a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16B is a graph showing electric characteristics of the semiconductor device, and FIG. 16C is a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device.

FIGS. 17A to 17C are block diagrams illustrating structures of a CPU of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18A is a circuit diagram of a display device including an EL element of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view of part of a pixel of the display device, and FIG. 18C is a cross-sectional view of a light-emitting layer in the display device.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are a circuit diagram and a cross-sectional view of a pixel of a display device including a liquid crystal element of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 20A to 20D illustrate electronic devices of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are graphs each showing the sheet resistance of oxide semiconductor films after a laser process.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing XRD results of oxide semiconductor films after a laser process.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are cross-sectional TE images of oxide semiconductor films after a laser process.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are cross-sectional TE images of oxide semiconductor films after a laser process.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are cross-sectional TE images of oxide semiconductor films after a laser process.

FIG. 26 is a graph showing the resistance of oxide semiconductor films after a laser process and the resistance of the oxide semiconductor films subjected to implantation of oxygen ions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the description below, and it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that modes and details disclosed herein can be modified in a variety of ways. Therefore, the present invention is not construed as being limited to description of the embodiments and the examples. In describing structures of the present invention with reference to the drawings, the same reference numerals are used in common for the same portions in different drawings. Note that the same hatch pattern is applied to similar parts, and the similar parts are not especially denoted by reference numerals in some cases.

Note that a voltage refers to a potential difference between a certain potential and a reference potential (e.g., a ground potential (GND) or a source potential) in many cases. Accordingly, a voltage can also be called a potential.

Even when the expression “to be electrically connected” is used in this specification, there is a case in which no physical connection is made and a wiring is just extended in an actual circuit.

Note that the ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” in this specification are used for convenience and do not denote the order of steps or the stacking order of layers. In addition, the ordinal numbers in this specification do not denote particular names which specify the present invention.

Embodiment 1

In this embodiment, a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention and a method for manufacturing the transistor will be described.

FIG. 1A is a top view of a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view along dashed-dotted line A1-A2 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view along dashed-dotted line A3-A4 of FIG. 1A. Note that a gate insulating film 112 and the like are not illustrated in FIG. 1A for simplicity.

The transistor illustrated in FIG. 1B includes a base insulating film 102 over a substrate 100; an oxide semiconductor film 106 which includes a low-resistance region 106 a, a low-resistance region 106 b, and a high-resistance region 106 c and is over the base insulating film 102; a source electrode 116 a and a drain electrode 116 b in contact with the low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b, respectively; the gate insulating film 112 over the oxide semiconductor film 106, the source electrode 116 a, and the drain electrode 116 b; and a gate electrode 104 over the oxide semiconductor film 106 with the gate insulating film 112 provided therebetween. Although the transistor illustrated in FIG. 1B includes the base insulating film 102, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the base insulating film 102 is not necessarily provided. Note that the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b may be collectively referred to as a pair of electrodes.

Specifically, the low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 overlap with the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b, respectively, in the top view of FIG. 1A. The high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 overlaps with neither the source electrode 116 a nor the drain electrode 116 b in the top view of FIG. 1A. Thus, the low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b of the oxide semiconductor film 106 function as a source region and a drain region of the transistor, respectively. Further, part of the high-resistance region 106 c of the oxide semiconductor film 106 (a region between the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b) functions as a channel region of the transistor.

The low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 have higher crystallinity than the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106. It is particularly preferable that the low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 include polycrystalline regions. The high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 may include an amorphous region.

The low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 may be formed using a c-axis aligned crystalline oxide semiconductor (CAAC-OS).

In most cases, a crystal part in the CAAC-OS fits inside a cube whose one side is less than 100 nm In an image obtained with a transmission electron microscope (TEM), a boundary between crystal parts in the CAAC-OS is not clearly detected. Further, with the TEM, a grain boundary in the CAAC-OS is not clearly found. Thus, in the CAAC-OS, a reduction in electron mobility due to the grain boundary is suppressed.

In each of the crystal parts included in the CAAC-OS, for example, a c-axis is aligned in a direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where the oxide semiconductor film is formed or a normal vector of a surface of the CAAC-OS film. Further, in each of the crystal parts, metal atoms are arranged in a triangular or hexagonal configuration when seen from the direction perpendicular to the a-b plane, and metal atoms are arranged in a layered manner or metal atoms and oxygen atoms are arranged in a layered manner when seen from the direction perpendicular to the c-axis. Note that, among crystal parts, the directions of the a-axis and the b-axis of one crystal part may be different from those of another crystal part. In this specification, a term “perpendicular” includes a range from 80° to 100°, preferably from 85° to 95°. In addition, a term “parallel” includes a range from −10° to 10°, preferably from −5° to 5°.

For the oxide semiconductor film 106, an In-M-Zn oxide may be used, for example. Here, a metal element M is an element whose bond energy with oxygen is higher than that of In and that of Zn. Alternatively, the metal element M is an element which has a function of suppressing elimination of oxygen from the In-M-Zn oxide. Owing to the effect of the metal element M, generation of oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film 106 is suppressed. Note that oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film 106 generate carriers in some cases. Thus, the effect of the metal element M suppresses an increase in the carrier density of the oxide semiconductor film 106 and an increase in off-state current. Furthermore, a change in the electrical characteristics of the transistor, which is caused by oxygen vacancies, can be reduced, whereby a highly reliable transistor can be obtained.

The metal element M can be, specifically, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, or W, and is preferably Al, Ti, Ga, Y, Zr, Ce, or Hf. As the metal element M, one or more elements of the above elements may be selected. Further, Si or Ge may be used instead of the metal element M.

The hydrogen concentration in the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 is lower than or equal to 2×10²⁰ atoms/cm³, preferably lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, and more preferably lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³. This is because hydrogen included in the oxide semiconductor film generates unintentional carriers in some cases. The generated carriers might increase the off-state current of the transistor and vary the electrical characteristics of the transistor. Thus, when the hydrogen concentration in the high-resistance region 106 c, which is the channel region of the transistor is in the above range, an increase in the off-state current of the transistor and a change in the electrical characteristics of the transistor can be suppressed.

The oxide semiconductor film 106 has a wider band gap than a silicon film by approximately 1 eV to 2 eV. For that reason, in the transistor including the oxide semiconductor film 106, impact ionization is unlikely to occur and avalanche breakdown is unlikely to occur. That is, it can be said that, in the transistor including the oxide semiconductor film 106, hot-carrier degradation is unlikely to occur.

Furthermore, there are a small number of sources of generating carriers in the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106; accordingly, the channel region can be completely depleted by an electric field of the gate electrode 104 even in the case where the oxide semiconductor film 106 has a large thickness (for example, greater than or equal to 15 nm and less than 100 nm). For that reason, in the transistor in which the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 is a channel region, an increase in off-state current and a change in threshold voltage due to a punch-through phenomenon are not caused.

The oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film can be evaluated by electron spin resonance (ESR). That is, an oxide semiconductor film without an oxygen vacancy (or with few oxygen vacancies) can be referred to as an oxide semiconductor film which does not have a signal due to oxygen vacancies evaluated by ESR. Specifically, the spin density attributed to oxygen vacancies in the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 is lower than 5×10¹⁶ spins/cm³. When the oxide semiconductor film has oxygen vacancies, a signal having symmetry is found at a g value of around 1.93 in ESR.

A transistor including the oxide semiconductor film can have an extremely low off-state current by a significant reduction in concentration of a donor (e.g., hydrogen or an oxygen vacancy) in the oxide semiconductor film. Specifically, the off-state current of a transistor with a channel length of 3 μm and a channel width of 1 μm can be lower than or equal to 1×10⁻²¹ A or lower than or equal to 1×10⁻²⁵ A.

There is no particular limitation on the substrate 100. For example, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, a quartz substrate, or a sapphire substrate may be used as the substrate 100. Alternatively, a single crystal semiconductor substrate or a polycrystalline semiconductor substrate of silicon, silicon carbide, or the like, a compound semiconductor substrate silicon germanium or the like, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, or the like may be used. Still alternatively, any of these substrates provided with a semiconductor element may be used as the substrate 100.

In the case of using a large glass substrate such as the fifth generation (1000 mm×1200 mm or 1300 mm×1500 mm); the sixth generation (1500 mm×1800 mm); the seventh generation (1870 mm×2200 mm); the eighth generation (2200 mm×2500 mm); the ninth generation (2400 mm×2800 mm); or the tenth generation (2880 mm×3130 mm) as the substrate 100, microfabrication is difficult in some cases due to the shrinkage of the substrate 100, which is caused by heat treatment or the like in a manufacturing process of the semiconductor device. Therefore, in the case where the above-described large glass substrate is used as the substrate 100, a substrate which is unlikely to shrink through the heat treatment is preferably used. For example, a large-sized glass substrate which has a shrinkage of 10 ppm or less, preferably 5 ppm or less, further preferably 3 ppm or less after heat treatment at 400° C., preferably at 450° C., and more preferably 500° C. for one hour may be used as the substrate 100.

Further alternatively, a flexible substrate may be used as the substrate 100. Note that as a method for providing a transistor over a flexible substrate, there is a method in which, after a transistor is formed over a non-flexible substrate, the transistor is separated from the non-flexible substrate and transferred to the substrate 100 which is a flexible substrate. In that case, a separation layer is preferably provided between the non-flexible substrate and the transistor.

As the base insulating film 102, a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, a silicon nitride film, an aluminum oxide film, a hafnium oxide film, an yttrium oxide film, a zirconium oxide film, a gallium oxide film, a tantalum oxide film, a magnesium oxide film, a lanthanum oxide film, a cerium oxide film, or a neodymium oxide film or a stack of any of these insulating films is used. It is preferable to use a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, or a silicon nitride film or a stack of any of these insulating films.

The base insulating film 102 preferably contains excess oxygen in a region which overlaps with the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106.

An insulating film containing excess oxygen can release oxygen by being subjected to heat treatment or the like. That is, an insulating film containing excess oxygen has a function of releasing oxygen by being subjected to heat treatment.

In the case where the base insulating film 102 contains excess oxygen in the region which overlaps with the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106, oxygen vacancies in the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 can be reduced.

Here, to release oxygen by heat treatment means that the amount of released oxygen which is converted into oxygen atoms is greater than or equal to 1×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³, greater than or equal to 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, or greater than or equal to 1×10²⁰ atoms/cm³ in thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) analysis.

A method for measuring the amount of released oxygen using TDS is described below.

The total amount of released gas from a measurement sample in TDS is proportional to the integral value of the ion intensity of the released gas. Then, a comparison with a standard sample is made, whereby the total amount of the released gas can be calculated.

For example, the number of released oxygen molecules (N_(O2)) from a measurement sample can be calculated according to Formula (1) using the TDS results of a silicon wafer containing hydrogen at a predetermined density, which is the standard sample, and the TDS results of the measurement sample. Here, all gasses having a mass number of 32 which are obtained by the TDS are assumed to originate from an oxygen molecule. CH₃OH can also be given as a gas having a mass number of 32, but is not taken into consideration on the assumption that CH₃OH is unlikely to be present. Further, an oxygen molecule including an oxygen atom having a mass number of 17 or 18, which is an isotope of an oxygen atom, is also not taken into consideration because the proportion of such a molecule in the natural world is minimal.

$\begin{matrix} {\left\lbrack {{FORMULA}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack \mspace{585mu}} & \; \\ {N_{O\; 2} = {\frac{N_{H\; 2}}{S_{H\; 2}} \times S_{O\; 2} \times \alpha}} & (1) \end{matrix}$

The value N_(H2) is obtained by conversion of the number of hydrogen molecules desorbed from the standard sample into density. The integral value of ion intensity when the standard sample is analyzed by TDS is denoted by S_(H2). Here, the reference value of the standard sample is expressed by N_(H2)/S_(H2). The integral value of ion intensity when the measurement sample is analyzed by TDS is denoted by S_(O2), and the coefficient affecting the ion intensity in the TDS is denoted by α. For the details of Formula (1), refer to Japanese Published Patent Application No. H6-275697. Note that the amount of released oxygen was measured with a thermal desorption spectroscopy apparatus produced by ESCO Ltd., EMD-WA1000S/W using a silicon wafer containing hydrogen atoms at 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm² as the standard sample.

Further, in the TDS, oxygen is partly detected as an oxygen atom. The ratio between oxygen molecules and oxygen atoms can be calculated from the ionization rate of oxygen molecules. Note that, since the above α is determined considering the ionization rate of oxygen molecules, the number of released oxygen atoms can be estimated through the evaluation of the number of the released oxygen molecules.

Note that N_(O2) is the number of released oxygen molecules. When the number of released oxygen molecules is converted into the number of released oxygen atoms, the number of released oxygen atoms is twice the number of released oxygen molecules.

The insulating film from which oxygen is released by heat treatment is an insulating film containing a peroxide radical. Specifically, the spin density attributed to a peroxide radical of the insulating film is higher than or equal to 5×10¹⁷ spins/cm³. Note that the insulating film containing a peroxide radical has a signal having asymmetry at a g value of around 2.01 in ESR.

The insulating film containing excess oxygen may be formed using oxygen-excess silicon oxide (SiO_(x) (X>2)). In the oxygen-excess silicon oxide (SiO_(x) (X>2)), the number of oxygen atoms per unit volume is more than twice the number of silicon atoms per unit volume. The number of silicon atoms and the number of oxygen atoms per unit volume are measured by RBS.

The source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer of a conductive film of a simple substance selected from aluminum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, tantalum, and tungsten; a nitride containing one or more kinds of the above substances; an oxide containing one or more kinds of the above substances; or an alloy containing one or more kinds of the above substances. Note that the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b may have the same composition or different compositions.

As the gate insulating film 112, a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, a silicon nitride film, an aluminum oxide film, a hafnium oxide film, an yttrium oxide film, a zirconium oxide film, a gallium oxide film, a tantalum oxide film, a magnesium oxide film, a lanthanum oxide film, a cerium oxide film, or a neodymium oxide film or a stack of any of these insulating films is used. It is preferable to use a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, or a silicon nitride film or a stack of any of these insulating films.

Note that the gate insulating film 112 preferably contains excess oxygen.

In the case where the gate insulating film 112 contains excess oxygen, oxygen vacancies in the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 can be reduced.

The gate electrode 104 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer of a conductive film of a simple substance selected from aluminum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, tantalum, and tungsten; a nitride containing one or more kinds of the above substances; an oxide containing one or more kinds of the above substances; or an alloy containing one or more kinds of the above substances.

In the aforementioned transistor, the low-resistance region 106 a and the low-resistance region 106 b which are included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 have high crystallinity. Thus, the transistor has low parasitic resistance and excellent on-state characteristics. Further, since the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106 has low impurity concentration and few oxygen vacancies, the transistor has stable electric characteristics.

Next, a method for manufacturing the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C will be described. Note that the method for manufacturing the transistor will be described with reference to cross-sectional views each corresponding to FIG. 1B.

First, the base insulating film 102 is formed over the substrate 100 (see FIG. 2A). The base insulating film 102 can be formed using an insulating film selected from the insulating films given as examples of the base insulating film 102 and can be formed by a sputtering method, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) method, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, or a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method.

Then, an oxide semiconductor film 136 a is formed (see FIG. 2B). The oxide semiconductor film 136 a may be formed using an oxide film selected from the oxide films given as examples of the oxide semiconductor film 106 and may be formed by a sputtering method, a CVD method, an MBE method, an ALD method, or a PLD method.

Subsequently, a process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 a is performed to form an oxide semiconductor film 136 b having low resistance (see FIG. 2C). The process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 a may be a laser process or heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., for example.

Specifically, the heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C. may be performed in an inert gas atmosphere or under reduced pressure. The heating time may be longer than or equal to 1 minute and shorter than or equal to 24 hours, preferably longer than or equal to 6 minutes and shorter than or equal to 5 hours, further preferably longer than or equal to 30 minutes and shorter than or equal to 2 hours.

The laser process may be performed specifically with an excimer laser which emits light having an emission wavelength of 308 nm and an energy density greater than or equal to 100 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 600 mJ/cm², preferably greater than or equal to 200 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 500 mJ/cm², further preferably greater than or equal to 250 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 400 mJ/cm². The conditions of the laser process are not limited to the above conditions. In principle, a laser emitting light whose energy converted from the emission wavelength is higher than the band gap (about 2 eV to 4 eV) of the oxide semiconductor film to be subjected to the laser process may be used. For example, an excimer laser which emits light having an emission wavelength of 193 nm, 248 nm, or 351 nm may be used. Alternatively, a semiconductor laser, a solid-state laser, or the like may be used. Note that since the fundamental wavelengths of a semiconductor laser and a solid-state laser are large, a harmonic is used.

When the laser process is performed, the shrinkage of the substrate 100 can be practically reduced even when heat treatment at extremely high temperature is performed. With the laser process performed only on an intended region in the substrate 100, the time needed for the laser process can be shortened and productivity can be enhanced. Note that the substrate 100 may be subjected to the laser process while being heated.

With the laser process or the heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C., the impurity concentration of the oxide semiconductor film 136 a can be reduced and an oxygen vacancy can be formed. In addition, the crystallinity is improved. As a result, an oxide semiconductor film 136 b having low resistance can be obtained.

Next, the oxide semiconductor film 136 b is processed into an island-shaped oxide semiconductor film 136.

Then, a conductive film to be the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b is formed. The conductive film can be selected from the conductive films given as examples of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b and can be formed by a sputtering method, a CVD method, an MBE method, an ALD method, or a PLD method.

Then, a conductive film to be the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b is processed to form the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b (see FIG. 3A).

After that, a region of the oxide semiconductor film 136, which overlaps with neither the source electrode 116 a nor the drain electrode 116 b, is subjected to a process for increasing the resistance of the region of the oxide semiconductor film.

A process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 may be performed by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions, for example. In this embodiment, oxygen ions 130 are implanted (see FIG. 3B).

The oxide semiconductor film 136 having low resistance has low impurity concentration and has many oxygen vacancies. Accordingly, the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance can be increased by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions for reducing oxygen vacancies. An oxide semiconductor film having high resistance which is obtained in such a manner is an oxide semiconductor film having low impurity concentration and few oxygen vacancies.

The process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 enables the region of the oxide semiconductor film 136, which overlaps with neither the source electrode 116 a nor the drain electrode 116 b, to be a high-resistance region. Meanwhile, regions of the oxide semiconductor film 136, which overlap with the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b, are low-resistance regions. In this manner, the oxide semiconductor film 106 including the low-resistance region 106 a, the low-resistance region 106 b, and the high-resistance region 106 c can be formed (see FIG. 3C).

Note that the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 might oxidize surfaces of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b. An increase in parasitic resistance due to the oxidation of the surfaces of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b can be ignored when the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b have sufficient thicknesses. Specifically, the thicknesses of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b are greater than or equal to 50 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 100 nm.

In some cases, the oxidation of the surfaces of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b can prevent leakage current between the gate electrode 104 and the source electrode 116 a and between the gate electrode 104 and the drain electrode 116 b.

A region of the base insulating film 102, which overlaps with the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106, may contain excess oxygen by the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 or by a similar process.

Next, the gate insulating film 112 is formed. The gate insulating film 112 can be formed using an insulating film selected from the insulating films given as examples of the gate insulating film 112 and can be formed by a sputtering method, a CVD method, an MBE method, an ALD method, or a PLD method.

The process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 can be performed after the formation of the gate insulating film 112 instead of after the formation of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b. In that case, a region of the gate insulating film 112 or the region of the base insulating film 102, which overlaps with the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106, may contain excess oxygen by the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 136 or by a similar process.

Then, a conductive film to be the gate electrode 104 is formed. The conductive film can be selected from the conductive films given as examples of the gate electrode 104 and can be formed by a sputtering method, a CVD method, an MBE method, an ALD method, or a PLD method.

After that, the conductive film to be the gate electrode 104 is processed to form the gate electrode 104 (see FIG. 3D).

Through the above steps, the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C can be manufactured.

Regions which function as the source region and the drain region of the transistor have low resistance. Thus, a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film has low parasitic resistance and has excellent on-state characteristics. Further, sources of generating carriers and the like in the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film are extremely reduced. Thus, a transistor including such an oxide semiconductor film has low off-state current and stable electric characteristics.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, a transistor having a structure different from the structures of the transistors in Embodiment 1 and a method of manufacturing the transistor will be described.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view along dashed-dotted line B1-B2 of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view along dashed-dotted line B3-B4 of FIG. 4A. Note that a gate insulating film 212 and the like are not illustrated in FIG. 4A for simplicity.

The transistor illustrated in FIG. 4B includes a base insulating film 202 over a substrate 200; an oxide semiconductor film 206 which includes a low-resistance region 206 a, a low-resistance region 206 b, and a high-resistance region 206 c and is over the base insulating film 202; the gate insulating film 212 over the oxide semiconductor film 206; a gate electrode 204 over the high-resistance region 206 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 206 with the gate insulating film 212 provided therebetween; and an insulating film 218 which is over the gate insulating film 212. The top surfaces of the insulating film 218 and the gate electrode 204 are substantially flush with each other. Although the transistor illustrated in FIG. 4B includes the base insulating film 202, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the base insulating film 202 is not necessarily provided.

Specifically, the low-resistance region 206 a and the low-resistance region 206 b included in the oxide semiconductor film 206 do not overlap with the gate electrode 204. The high-resistance region 206 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 206 overlaps with the gate electrode 204. Thus, the low-resistance region 206 a and the low-resistance region 206 b of the oxide semiconductor film 206 function as a source region and a drain region of the transistor, respectively. Further, part of the high-resistance region 206 c of the oxide semiconductor film 206 functions as a channel region of the transistor.

For the oxide semiconductor film 206, refer to the description of the oxide semiconductor film 106. Further, for the low-resistance region 206 a, the low-resistance region 206 b, and the high-resistance region 206 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 206, refer to the descriptions of the low-resistance region 106 a, the low-resistance region 106 b, and the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106.

For the substrate 200, refer to the description of the substrate 100.

For the base insulating film 202, refer to the description of the base insulating film 102.

For the gate insulating film 212, refer to the description of the gate insulating film 112.

For the gate electrode 204, refer to the description of the gate electrode 104.

As the insulating film 218, a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, a silicon nitride film, an aluminum oxide film, a hafnium oxide film, an yttrium oxide film, a zirconium oxide film, a gallium oxide film, a tantalum oxide film, a magnesium oxide film, a lanthanum oxide film, a cerium oxide film, or a neodymium oxide film or a stack of any of these insulating films is used. It is preferable to use a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, or a silicon nitride film or a stack of any of these insulating films.

Next, a method for manufacturing the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C will be described. Note that the method for manufacturing the transistor will be described with reference to cross-sectional views each corresponding to FIG. 4B.

First, the base insulating film 202 is formed over the substrate 200. For the base insulating film 202, refer to the description of the method for forming the base insulating film 102.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film 236 is formed. For the oxide semiconductor film 236, refer to the description of the method for forming the oxide semiconductor film 136.

Then, the gate insulating film 212 is formed (see FIG. 5A). For the gate insulating film 212, refer to the description of the method for forming the gate insulating film 112.

Subsequently, an insulating film, a semiconductor film, or a conductive film, which is to be a sacrificial layer 234 is formed. The insulating film, the semiconductor film, or the conductive film, which is to be the sacrificial layer 234 may be formed by a sputtering method, a CVD method, an MBE method, an ALD method, or a PLD method. Note that the sacrificial layer 234 can be any kind of film, such as an insulating film, a semiconductor film, or a conductive film, as long as the film can be selectively etched from an insulating film 248 (which is to be the insulating film 218) formed later. In this embodiment, an insulating film, a semiconductor film, or a conductive film, which is to be the sacrificial layer 234, selected from the conductive films given as examples of the gate electrode 104 is used.

Next, the conductive film which is to be the sacrificial layer 234 is processed to form the sacrificial layer 234 (see FIG. 5B).

After that, the insulating film 248 is formed (see FIG. 5C). The insulating film 248 can be formed using an insulating film selected from the insulating films given as examples of the insulating film 218 and can be formed by a sputtering method, a CVD method, an MBE method, an ALD method, or a PLD method. It is preferable that the thickness of the insulating film 248 be larger than the thickness of the sacrificial layer 234 because later steps can be easily performed.

Then, part of the insulating film 248 is removed so that the top surface of the insulating film 248 is level and part of the top surface of the sacrificial layer 234 is exposed. After that, parts of the insulating film 248 and the sacrificial layer 234 are removed so that the top surfaces of the insulating film 248 and the sacrificial layer 234 are substantially flush with each other; thus, a sacrificial layer 235 whose whole top surface is exposed and an insulating film 249 whose top surface is substantially flush with that of the sacrificial layer 235 are formed (see FIG. 5D).

As a method for removing parts of the insulating film 248 and the sacrificial layer 234 so that the top surfaces of the insulating film 248 and the sacrificial layer 234 are substantially flush with each other, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process may be used. Alternatively, a planarization film may be formed so that its top surface is level and then be etched from the top with the etching rate controlled.

Next, the sacrificial layer 235 is removed by an etching process under conditions that the sacrificial layer 235 is etched, but the insulating film 249 is not etched (see FIG. 6A). By removal of the sacrificial layer 235, the insulating film 249 exposes part of the gate insulating film 212.

Note that part of the gate insulating film 212 may be removed together with the sacrificial layer 235.

Subsequently, a region of the oxide semiconductor film 236, which does not overlap with the insulating film 249, is subjected to a process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film.

A process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 236 may be performed by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions, for example. In this embodiment, oxygen ions 230 are implanted (see FIG. 6B).

The oxide semiconductor film 236 having low resistance has low impurity concentration and has many oxygen vacancies. Accordingly, the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance can be increased by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions for reducing oxygen vacancies. An oxide semiconductor film having high resistance which is obtained in such a manner is an oxide semiconductor film having low impurity concentration and few oxygen vacancies.

The process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 236 enables the region of the oxide semiconductor film 236, which does not overlap with the insulating film 249, to be a high-resistance region. Meanwhile, regions of the oxide semiconductor film 236, which overlap with the insulating film 249, are low-resistance regions. In this manner, the oxide semiconductor film 206 including the low-resistance region 206 a, the low-resistance region 206 b, and the high-resistance region 206 c can be formed (see FIG. 6C).

Note that a region of the gate insulating film 212, which overlaps with the high-resistance region 206 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 206, or a region of the base insulating film 202, which overlaps with the high-resistance region 206 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 206, may contain excess oxygen by the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 236 or by a similar process.

After that, part of the gate insulating film 212 may be removed.

In the case where the part of the gate insulating film 212 is removed together with the sacrificial layer 235 or in the case where the part of the gate insulating film 212 is removed after the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 236, a gate insulating film is formed at this time.

Then, a conductive film 205 is formed (see FIG. 6D). For the conductive film 205, refer to the description of the method for forming the conductive film which is to be the gate electrode 104.

Next, part of the conductive film 205 is removed so that the top surface of the conductive film 205 is level and part of the top surface of the insulating film 249 is exposed. After that, parts of the insulating film 249 and the conductive film 205 are removed so that the top surfaces of the insulating film 249 and the conductive film 205 are substantially flush with each other; thus, the gate electrode 204 and the insulating film 218 whose top surface is substantially flush with that of the gate electrode 204 are formed (see FIG. 7A). Note that with such removal, an effect of unevenness due to the substrate 200 and other layers can be reduced, which enables the yield of the transistor to be improved.

Through the above steps, the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C can be manufactured.

Regions which function as the source region and the drain region of the transistor have low resistance. Thus, a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film has low parasitic resistance and has excellent on-state characteristics. Further, sources of generating carriers and the like in the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film are extremely reduced. Thus, a transistor including such an oxide semiconductor film has low off-state current and stable electric characteristics.

An insulating film and a wiring over the insulating film may be formed subsequently. An example of a method for forming the wiring is described below. First, an insulating film 220 is formed. Next, the gate insulating film 212, the insulating film 218, and the insulating film 220 are processed to expose the low-resistance region 206 a and the low-resistance region 206 b which are included in the oxide semiconductor film 206. Then, a conductive film which is to be a wiring 224 a and a wiring 224 b is formed and is processed to form the wiring 224 a and the wiring 224 b (see FIG. 7B).

For detailed method for forming the insulating film and the wiring over the insulating film, refer to the description of the method for forming another insulating film, another conductive film, or the like.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, a transistor having a structure different from the structures of the transistors in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 and a method of manufacturing the transistor will be described.

FIG. 8A is a top view of a transistor of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view along dashed-dotted line C1-C2 of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view along dashed-dotted line C3-C4 of FIG. 8A. Note that a gate insulating film 312 and the like are not illustrated in FIG. 8A for simplicity.

The transistor illustrated in FIG. 8B includes a base insulating film 302 over a substrate 300; a gate electrode 304 over the base insulating film 302; the gate insulating film 312 over the gate electrode 304; an oxide semiconductor film 306 which includes a low-resistance region 306 a, a low-resistance region 306 b, and a high-resistance region 306 c and is over the gate electrode 304 with the gate insulating film 312 provided therebetween; and a source electrode 316 a and a drain electrode 316 b in contact with the low-resistance region 306 a and the low-resistance region 306 b, respectively. Although the transistor illustrated in FIG. 8B includes the base insulating film 302, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the base insulating film 302 is not necessarily provided. Note that the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b may be collectively referred to as a pair of electrodes.

Specifically, the low-resistance region 306 a and the low-resistance region 306 b included in the oxide semiconductor film 306 overlap with the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b, respectively. The high-resistance region 306 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 306 overlaps with neither the source electrode 316 a nor the drain electrode 316 b. Thus, the low-resistance region 306 a and the low-resistance region 306 b of the oxide semiconductor film 306 function as a source region and a drain region of the transistor, respectively. Further, part of the high-resistance region 306 c of the oxide semiconductor film 306 (a region between the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b) functions as a channel region of the transistor.

For the oxide semiconductor film 306, refer to the description of the oxide semiconductor film 106. Further, for the low-resistance region 306 a, the low-resistance region 306 b, and the high-resistance region 306 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 306, refer to the descriptions of the low-resistance region 106 a, the low-resistance region 106 b, and the high-resistance region 106 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 106.

For the substrate 300, refer to the description of the substrate 100.

For the base insulating film 302, refer to the description of the base insulating film 102.

For the gate electrode 304, refer to the description of the gate electrode 104.

For the gate insulating film 312, refer to the description of the gate insulating film 112.

For the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b, refer to the description of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b.

Although not illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C, a protective insulating film may be provided over the oxide semiconductor film 306, the source electrode 316 a, and the drain electrode 316 b.

As the protective insulating film, a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, a silicon nitride film, an aluminum oxide film, a hafnium oxide film, an yttrium oxide film, a zirconium oxide film, a gallium oxide film, a tantalum oxide film, a magnesium oxide film, a lanthanum oxide film, a cerium oxide film, or a neodymium oxide film or a stack of any of these insulating films is used. It is preferable to use a single layer of an insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride oxide film, or a silicon nitride film or a stack of any of these insulating films.

Note that the protective insulating film preferably contains excess oxygen. In the case where the protective insulating film contains excess oxygen, oxygen vacancies in the high-resistance region 306 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 306 can be reduced.

A back gate electrode may be provided over the oxide semiconductor film 306 with the protective insulating film provided therebetween. The threshold voltage can be controlled easily owing to the back gate electrode. Moreover, the on-state current of the transistor can be increased by electrically connecting the back gate electrode to the gate electrode 304. Alternatively, the off-state current of the transistor can be reduced by setting the potential of the back gate electrode to GND or a negative potential (a potential which is lower than that of the source of the transistor or lower than GND).

Next, a method for manufacturing the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C will be described. Note that the method for manufacturing the transistor will be described with reference to cross-sectional views each corresponding to FIG. 8B.

First, the base insulating film 302 is formed over the substrate 300 (see FIG. 9A). For the base insulating film 302, refer to the description of the method for forming the base insulating film 102.

Next, a conductive film to be the gate electrode 304 is formed. For the conductive film, refer to the description of the method for forming the conductive film which is to be the gate electrode 104.

After that, the conductive film to be the gate electrode 304 is processed to form the gate electrode 304 (see FIG. 9B).

Then, the gate insulating film 312 is formed (see FIG. 9C). For the gate insulating film 312, refer to the description of the method for forming the gate insulating film 112.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film 336 a is formed (see FIG. 9D). For the oxide semiconductor film 336 a, refer to the description of the method for forming the oxide semiconductor film 136 a.

Subsequently, process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 336 a is performed to form an oxide semiconductor film 336 b having low resistance (see FIG. 10A). For the process for reducing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 336 a, refer to the description in Embodiment 1.

Next, the oxide semiconductor film 336 b is processed into an island-shaped oxide semiconductor film 336.

Then, a conductive film to be the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b is formed. For the conductive film, refer to the description of the conductive film to be the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b.

Then, a conductive film to be the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b is processed to form the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b (see FIG. 10B).

After that, a region of the oxide semiconductor film 336, which overlaps with neither the source electrode 316 a nor the drain electrode 316 b, is subjected to a process for increasing the resistance of the region of the oxide semiconductor film.

For a process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 336, refer to the description in Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, oxygen ions 330 are implanted (see FIG. 10C).

The oxide semiconductor film 336 having low resistance has low impurity concentration and has many oxygen vacancies. Accordingly, the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film having low resistance can be increased by plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions for reducing oxygen vacancies. An oxide semiconductor film having high resistance which is obtained in such a manner is an oxide semiconductor film having low impurity concentration and few oxygen vacancies.

The process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 336 enables the region of the oxide semiconductor film 336, which overlaps with neither the source electrode 316 a nor the drain electrode 316 b, to be a high-resistance region. Meanwhile, regions of the oxide semiconductor film 336, which overlap with the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b, are low-resistance regions. In this manner, the oxide semiconductor film 306 including the low-resistance region 306 a, the low-resistance region 306 b, and the high-resistance region 306 c can be formed (see FIG. 10D).

Note that the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 336 might oxidize surfaces of the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b. An increase in parasitic resistance due to the oxidation of the surfaces of the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b can be ignored when the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b have sufficient thicknesses. Specifically, the thicknesses of the source electrode 316 a and the drain electrode 316 b are greater than or equal to 50 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 100 nm.

A region of the gate insulating film 312, which overlaps with the high-resistance region 306 c included in the oxide semiconductor film 306, may contain excess oxygen by the process for increasing the resistance of the oxide semiconductor film 336 or by a similar process.

Through the above steps, the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C can be manufactured.

Regions which function as the source region and the drain region of the transistor have low resistance. Thus, a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film has low parasitic resistance and has excellent on-state characteristics. Further, sources of generating carriers and the like in the channel region of the oxide semiconductor film are extremely reduced. Thus, a transistor including such an oxide semiconductor film has low off-state current and stable electric characteristics.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, a logic circuit which is a semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention is described.

FIG. 11A is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a NOT circuit (inverter) using a p-channel transistor and an n-channel transistor.

A transistor Tr1 a which is a p-channel transistor may be, for example, a transistor including silicon. Note that the transistor Tr1 a is not limited to a transistor including silicon. The threshold voltage of the transistor Tr1 a is denoted by Vth1 a.

A transistor Tr2 a which is an n-channel transistor may be, for example, the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, which is described in the above embodiment. The threshold voltage of the transistor Tr2 a is denoted by Vth2 a.

Here, a gate of the transistor Tr1 a is connected to an input terminal Vin and a gate of the transistor Tr2 a. A source of the transistor Tr1 a is electrically connected to a power supply potential (VDD). A drain of the transistor Tr1 a is connected to a drain of the transistor Tr2 a and an output terminal Vout. A source of the transistor Tr2 a is connected to a ground potential (GND). A back gate of the transistor Tr2 a is connected to a back gate line BGL. In this embodiment, the transistor Tr2 a has a back gate; however, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is also possible to employ a structure in which the transistor Tr2 a does not have a back gate or a structure in which the transistor Tr1 a has a back gate.

For example, the threshold voltage Vth1 a of the transistor Tr1 a is higher than VDD with an inverted sign and lower than 0 V (−VDD<Vth1 a<0 V). Further, the threshold voltage Vth2 a of the transistor Tr2 a is higher than 0 V and lower than VDD (0 V<Vth2 a<VDD). Note that a back gate may be used for control of the threshold voltage of each transistor.

Here, when the potential of the input terminal Vin is set to VDD, the gate voltage of the transistor Tr1 a becomes 0 V, so that the transistor Tr1 a is turned off. Further, the gate voltage of the transistor Tr2 a becomes VDD, so that the transistor Tr2 a is turned on. Accordingly, the output terminal Vout is electrically connected to GND and supplied with GND.

When the potential of the input terminal Vin is set to GND, the gate voltage of the transistor Tr1 a becomes VDD, so that the transistor Tr1 a is turned on. Further, the gate voltage of the transistor Tr2 a becomes 0 V, so that the transistor Tr2 a is turned off. Accordingly, the output terminal Vout is electrically connected to VDD and supplied with VDD.

As described above, in the circuit diagram of FIG. 11A, GND is output from the output terminal Vout when the potential of the input terminal Vin is VDD, and VDD is output from the output terminal Vout when the potential of the input terminal Vin is GND.

FIG. 11B is an example of a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device corresponding to FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device including the transistor Tr1 a over the transistor Tr1 a, and the transistor Tr2 a over the transistor Tr1 a.

In FIG. 11B, a transistor similar to the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C is used as the transistor Tr2 a. Therefore, for components of the transistor Tr2 a which are not particularly described below, refer to the description on FIGS. 1A to 1C.

Here, the transistor Tr1 a includes a semiconductor substrate 650, a channel region 656, a source region 657 a, and a drain region 657 b which are provided in the semiconductor substrate 650, an element isolation layer 664 which fills a groove portion provided in the semiconductor substrate 650, a gate insulating film 662 provided over the semiconductor substrate 650, and a gate electrode 654 provided over the channel region 656 with the gate insulating film 662 therebetween.

A single crystal semiconductor substrate or a polycrystalline semiconductor substrate of silicon, silicon carbide, or the like or a compound semiconductor substrate of silicon germanium or the like may be used as the semiconductor substrate 650.

In this embodiment, the transistor Tr1 a is provided in a semiconductor substrate; however, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a structure may be employed in which a substrate having an insulating surface is used instead of the semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor film is provided on the insulating surface. Here, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, a quartz substrate, or a sapphire substrate may be used as the substrate having an insulating surface, for example.

The source region 657 a and the drain region 657 b include an impurity which makes the semiconductor substrate 650 have p-type conductivity.

The element isolation layer 664 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

The gate insulating film 662 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

The gate electrode 654 may be formed of a conductive film of a single layer or a stacked layer of a simple substance selected from aluminum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, tantalum, and tungsten; a nitride containing one or more kinds of the above substances; an oxide containing one or more kinds of the above substances; or an alloy containing one or more kinds of the above substances.

The gate electrode 654 functions not only as the gate electrode of the transistor Tr1 a, but also as the gate electrode of the transistor Tr2 a. Accordingly, the base insulating film 102 functions as the gate insulating film of the transistor Tr2 a.

For a gate electrode 104 of the transistor Tr2 a, refer to the description of the gate electrode 104 of the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C. Note that the gate electrode 104 functions as a back gate electrode of the transistor Tr2 a.

In the semiconductor device illustrated in FIG. 11B, an insulating film 690 whose top surface is aligned with the top surface of the gate electrode 654 is provided. Note that a structure without the insulating film 690 may be employed.

The insulating film 690 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

An opening reaching the drain region 657 b of the transistor Tr1 a is provided in the gate insulating film 662, the insulating film 690, and the base insulating film 102. The drain electrode 116 b of the transistor Tr2 a is in contact with the drain region 657 b of the transistor Tr1 a through the opening.

By applying the transistor described in the above embodiment to the transistor Tr2 a, a flow-through current when the transistor Tr2 a is off can be significantly reduced because the transistor Tr2 a has an extremely low off-state current. Thus, an inverter with low power consumption is achieved.

Note that the inverters illustrated in FIG. 11A may be combined to form a NAND circuit illustrated in FIG. 12A. The circuit diagram of FIG. 12A includes a transistor Tr1 b and a transistor Tr4 b which are p-channel transistors, and a transistor Tr2 b and a transistor Tr3 b which are n-channel transistors. The transistors Tr1 b and Tr4 b may each be, for example, a transistor including silicon. The transistors Tr2 b and Tr3 b may each be the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment.

The inverter illustrated in FIG. 11A may be combined to form a NOR circuit illustrated in FIG. 12B. The circuit diagram of FIG. 12B includes a transistor Tr1 c and a transistor Tr2 c which are p-channel transistors, and a transistor Tr3 c and a transistor Tr4 c which are n-channel transistors. The transistors Tr1 c and Tr2 c may each be, for example, a transistor including silicon. The transistors Tr3 c and Tr4 c may each be the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment.

The aforementioned examples of logic circuits are configured with the inverters using p-channel transistors and n-channel transistors; a logic circuit may be configured with an inverter using only n-channel transistors. FIG. 13A illustrates an example of such a case.

The circuit diagram of FIG. 13A includes a transistor Tr1 d which is a depletion transistor and a transistor Tr2 d which is an enhancement transistor.

The depletion transistor Tr1 d may be, for example, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film. Note that the transistor Tr1 d is not limited to a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film, and may be, for example, a transistor including silicon. The threshold voltage of the transistor Tr1 d is denoted by Vth1 d. A resistor with a sufficiently low resistance may be provided instead of the depletion transistor.

The enhancement transistor Tr2 d may be, for example, the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment. The threshold voltage of the transistor Tr2 d is denoted by Vth2 d.

Note that the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment may be used as the transistor Tr1 d. In that case, a transistor other than the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment may be used as the transistor Tr2 d.

Here, a gate of the transistor Tr1 d is connected to an input terminal Vin and a gate of the transistor Tr2 d. A drain of the transistor Tr1 d is electrically connected to VDD. A source of the transistor Tr1 d is connected to a drain of the transistor Tr2 d and an output terminal Vout. A source of the transistor Tr2 d is connected to GND. A back gate of the transistor Tr2 d is connected to a back gate line BGL. In this embodiment, the transistor Tr2 d has a back gate; however, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is also possible to employ a structure in which the transistor Tr2 d does not have a back gate or a structure in which the transistor Tr1 d has a back gate.

The threshold voltage Vth1 d of the transistor Tr1 d is, for example, lower than 0 V (Vth1 d<0 V). Accordingly, the transistor Tr1 d is on regardless of the gate voltage, that is, the transistor Tr1 d functions as a resistor having a sufficiently low resistance. Further, the threshold voltage Vth2 d of the transistor Tr2 d is higher than 0 V and lower than VDD (0 V<Vth2 d<VDD). Note that a back gate may be used for control of the threshold voltage of each transistor. Further, a resistor having a sufficiently low resistance may be provided instead of the transistor Tr1 d.

Here, when the potential of the input terminal Vin is set to VDD, the gate voltage of the transistor Tr2 d becomes VDD, so that the transistor Tr2 d is turned on. Accordingly, the output terminal Vout is electrically connected to GND and supplied with GND.

Further, when the potential of the input terminal Vin is set to GND, the gate voltage of the transistor Tr2 d becomes 0 V, so that the transistor Tr2 d is turned off. Accordingly, the output terminal Vout is electrically connected to VDD and supplied with VDD. Note that strictly, the potential output from the output terminal Vout is equal to a potential dropped from VDD by the resistance of the transistor Tr1 d. However, the effect of the voltage drop can be ignored because the resistance of the transistor Tr1 d is sufficiently low.

As described above, in the circuit diagram of FIG. 13A, when the potential of the input terminal Vin is VDD, GND is output from the output terminal Vout, and when the potential of the input terminal Vin is GND, VDD is output from the output terminal Vout.

Note that the transistor Tr1 d and the transistor Tr2 d may be manufactured in the same plane, which facilitates the production of the inverter. At this time, a back gate is preferably provided in at least one of the transistors Tr1 d and Tr2 d. In the case where the manufactured transistors are depletion transistors, the threshold voltage Vth2 d may be set within the above range by the back gate of the transistor Tr2 d. In the case where the manufactured transistors are enhancement transistors, the threshold voltage Vth1 d may be set within the above range by the back gate of the transistor Tr1 d. Note that the threshold voltages of the transistors Tr1 d and Tr2 d may be controlled by different back gates.

Alternatively, the transistor Tr1 d and the transistor Tr2 d may overlap with each other, in which case the inverter can be reduced in area.

FIG. 13B is an example of a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device in which the transistor Tr1 d and the transistor Tr2 d overlap with each other.

For the transistor Tr1 d in FIG. 13B, refer to the description of the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C. Further the transistor Tr2 d is different from the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C in that positions where the oxide semiconductor film is in contact with the source electrode and the drain electrode. Thus, for components of the transistor Tr2 d which are not particularly described below, refer to the description on FIGS. 1A to 1C.

Note that the transistor Tr2 d includes an insulating film 802 over the transistor Tr1 d; a source electrode 816 a and a drain electrode 816 b over the insulating film 802; an oxide semiconductor film 806 over the insulating film 802, the source electrode 816 a, and the drain electrode 816 b; a gate insulating film 812 over the oxide semiconductor film 806; and a gate electrode 814 which is over the gate insulating film 812 and overlaps with the oxide semiconductor film 806.

The gate electrode 104 functions not only as the gate electrode of the transistor Tr1 d, but also as the gate electrode of the transistor Tr2 d. Accordingly, the insulating film 802 functions as the gate insulating film of the transistor Tr2 d.

For the source electrode 816 a and the drain electrode 816 b of the transistor Tr2 d, refer to the description of the source electrode 116 a and the drain electrode 116 b of the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C.

For the oxide semiconductor film 806 of the transistor Tr2 d, refer to the description of the oxide semiconductor film 106 of the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C.

For the gate insulating film 812 of the transistor Tr2 d, refer to the description of the gate insulating film 112 of the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C.

For a gate electrode 814 of the transistor Tr2 d, refer to the description of the gate electrode 104 of the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C. Note that the gate electrode 814 functions as a back gate electrode of the transistor Tr2 d.

In the semiconductor device illustrated in FIG. 13B, the insulating film 120 whose top surface is aligned with the top surface of the gate electrode 104 is provided. Note that a structure without the insulating film 120 may be employed.

The insulating film 120 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

An opening reaching the drain electrode 116 b of the transistor Tr1 d is formed in the gate insulating film 112, the insulating film 120, and the insulating film 802. The source electrode 816 a of the transistor Tr2 d is in contact with the drain electrode 116 b of the transistor Tr1 d through the opening.

By applying the transistor described in the above embodiment to the transistor Tr1 d, a flow-through current when the transistor Tr1 d is off can be significantly reduced because the transistor Tr1 d has an extremely low off-state current. Thus, an inverter with low power consumption is achieved.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 5

In this embodiment, a static random access memory (SRAM) will be described, the SRAM being a semiconductor device including a flip-flop which is obtained by applying the inverter circuit shown in Embodiment 4.

In the SRAM, data is retained using a flip-flop; therefore, unlike in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), refresh operation is not necessary and thus data can be retained with less power. In addition, the SRAM does not use a capacitor and thus is suitable for application requiring high-speed operation.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram equivalent to a memory cell of an SRAM of one embodiment of the present invention. Although only one memory cell is illustrated in FIG. 14, one embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a memory cell array including a plurality of the memory cells.

The memory cell illustrated in FIG. 14 includes a transistor Tr1 e, a transistor Tr2 e, a transistor Tr3 e, a transistor Tr4 e, a transistor Tr5 e, and a transistor Tr6 e. The transistors Tr1 e and Tr2 e are p-channel transistors, and the transistors Tr3 e and Tr4 e are n-channel transistors. A gate of the transistor Tr1 e is electrically connected to a drain of the transistor Tr2 e, a gate of the transistor Tr3 e, a drain of the transistor Tr4 e, and one of a source and a drain of the transistor Tr6 e. A source of the transistor Tr1 e is electrically connected to VDD. A drain of the transistor Tr1 e is electrically connected to a gate of the transistor Tr2 e, a drain of the transistor Tr3 e, a gate of the transistor Tr4 e, and one of a source and a drain of the transistor Tr5 e. A source of the transistor Tr2 e is electrically connected to VDD. A source of the transistor Tr3 e is electrically connected to GND. A back gate of the transistor Tr3 e is electrically connected to a back gate line BGL. A source of the transistor Tr4 e is electrically connected to GND. A back gate of the transistor Tr4 e is electrically connected to a back gate line BGL. A gate of the transistor Tr5 e is electrically connected to the word line WL. The other of the source and the drain of the transistor Tr5 e is electrically connected to a bit line BLB. A gate of the transistor Tr6 e is electrically connected to the word line WL. The other of the source and the drain of the transistor Tr6 e is electrically connected to a bit line BL.

Note that this embodiment shows an example where n-channel transistors are used as the transistors Tr5 e and Tr6 e. However, the transistors Tr5 e and Tr6 e are not limited to n-channel transistors and may be p-channel transistors. In that case, writing, retaining, and reading methods described below may be changed as appropriate.

A flip-flop is thus configured in such a manner that an inverter including the transistors Tr1 e and Tr3 e and an inverter including the transistors Tr2 e and Tr4 e are connected in a ring.

The p-channel transistors may be, but are not limited to, transistors including silicon for example. The n-channel transistors may each be the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment.

In this embodiment, the transistors Tr3 e and Tr4 e may each be the transistor including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment. With an extremely low off-state current, the transistor has an extremely low flow-through current.

Note that instead of the p-channel transistors, n-channel transistors may be applied to the transistors Tr1 e and Tr2 e. In the case where n-channel transistors are used as the transistors Tr1 e and Tr2 e, depletion transistors may be employed as described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B.

Writing, retaining, and reading operation of the memory cell illustrated in FIG. 14 will be described below.

In writing, first, potentials corresponding to data 0 or data 1 are applied to the bit line BL and the bit line BLB.

For example, in the case where data 1 is to be written, the VDD is applied to the bit line BL and the GND is applied to the bit line BLB. Then, a potential (VH) higher than or equal to the sum of the VDD and the threshold voltage of the transistors Tr5 e and Tr6 e is applied to the word line WL.

Next, the potential of the word line WL is set to be lower than the threshold voltage of the transistors Tr5 e and Tr6 e, whereby the data 1 written to the flip-flop is retained. In the case of the SRAM, a current flowing in retaining data is only the leakage current of the transistors. Here, any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment, which has an extremely low off-state current, is applied to some of the transistors in the SRAM, resulting in a reduction in stand-by power for retaining data because leakage current due to the transistor is extremely low.

In reading, the VDD is applied to the bit line BL and the bit line BLB in advance. Then, the VH is applied to the word line WL, so that the potential of the bit line BLB is discharged through the transistors Tr5 e and Tr3 e to be equal to the GND while the potential of the bit line BL is kept at VDD. The potential difference between the bit line BL and the bit line BLB is amplified by a sense amplifier (not illustrated), whereby the retained data 1 can be read.

In the case where data 0 is to be written, the GND is applied to the bit line BL and the VDD is applied to the bit line BLB; then, the VH is applied to the word line WL. Next, the potential of the word line WL is set to be lower than the threshold voltage of the transistors Tr5 e and Tr6 e, whereby the data 0 written to the flip-flop is retained. In reading, the VDD is applied to the bit line BL and the bit line BLB in advance. Then, the VH is applied to the word line WL, so that the potential of the bit line BL is discharged through the transistors Tr6 e and Tr4 e to be equal to the GND while the potential of the bit line BLB is kept at VDD. The potential difference between the bit line BL and the bit line BLB is amplified by the sense amplifier, whereby the retained data 0 can be read.

According to this embodiment, an SRAM with low stand-by power can be provided.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 6

The transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment can have extremely low off-state current. That is, the transistor has electrical characteristics in which leakage of charge through the transistor is unlikely to occur.

A semiconductor device which includes a transistor having such electric characteristics will be described below. The semiconductor device includes a memory element which is functionally superior to a known memory element.

First, the semiconductor device will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 15A to 15D. FIG. 15A is a circuit diagram showing a memory cell array of the semiconductor device. FIG. 15B is a circuit diagram of a memory cell. FIG. 15C illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure corresponding to the memory cell in FIG. 15B. FIG. 15D is a graph showing the electric characteristics of the memory cell in FIG. 15B.

The memory cell array in FIG. 15A includes a plurality of memory cells 556, a plurality of bit lines 553, a plurality of word lines 554, a plurality of capacitor lines 555, and a plurality of sense amplifiers 558.

Note that the bit lines 553 and the word lines 554 are provided in a grid pattern, and the memory cell 556 is provided for each intersection of the bit line 553 and the word line 554. The bit lines 553 are connected to the respective sense amplifiers 558. The sense amplifiers 558 have a function of reading the potentials of the bit lines 553 as data.

As shown in FIG. 15B, the memory cell 556 includes a transistor 551 and a capacitor 552. A gate of the transistor 551 is electrically connected to the word line 554. A source of the transistor 551 is electrically connected to the bit line 553. A drain of the transistor 551 is electrically connected to one terminal of the capacitor 552. The other terminal of the capacitor 552 is electrically connected to the capacitor line 555.

FIG. 15C illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of the memory cell. FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device including the transistor 551, the wirings 224 a and 224 b connected to the transistor 551, an insulating film 520 over the transistor 551 and the wirings 224 a and 224 b, and the capacitor 552 over the insulating film 520.

Note that in FIG. 15C, the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C is used as the transistor 551. Therefore, for components of the transistor 551 which are not particularly described below, refer to the description in the above embodiment.

The insulating film 520 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide. Alternatively, a resin film of a polyimide resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, or the like may be used as the insulating film 520.

The capacitor 552 includes an electrode 526 in contact with the wiring 224 b, an electrode 528 overlapping with the electrode 526, and an insulating film 522 provided between the electrode 526 and the electrode 528.

The electrode 526 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer of a conductive film of a simple substance selected from aluminum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, tantalum, and tungsten; a nitride containing one or more kinds of the above substances; an oxide containing one or more kinds of the above substances; or an alloy containing one or more kinds of the above substances.

The electrode 528 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer of a conductive film of a simple substance selected from aluminum, titanium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, tantalum, and tungsten; a nitride containing one or more kinds of the above substances; an oxide containing one or more kinds of the above substances; or an alloy containing one or more kinds of the above substances.

The insulating film 522 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

Note that although FIG. 15C shows an example where the transistor 551 and the capacitor 552 are provided in different layers, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this structure. For example, the transistor 551 and the capacitor 552 may be provided in the same plane. With such a structure, memory cells having similar structures can be disposed so as to overlap with each other, in which case, a large number of memory cells can be integrated in an area for one memory cell. Accordingly, the degree of integration of the semiconductor device can be improved. Note that in this specification, “A overlaps with B” means that A and B are provided such that at least part of A overlaps with at least part of B.

Here, the wiring 224 a in FIG. 15C is electrically connected to the bit line 553 in FIG. 15B. The gate electrode 204 in FIG. 15C is electrically connected to the word line 554 in FIG. 15B. The electrode 528 in FIG. 15C is electrically connected to the capacitor line 555 in FIG. 15B.

As shown in FIG. 15D, a voltage held in the capacitor 552 gradually decreases with time due to leakage through the transistor 551. A voltage originally charged from V0 to V1 is decreased with time to VA that is a limit for reading out data 1. This period is called a holding period T_1. In the case of a two-level memory cell, refresh operation needs to be performed within the holding period T_1.

For example, in the case where the off-state current of the transistor 551 is not sufficiently small, the holding period T_1 becomes short because the voltage held in the capacitor 552 significantly changes with time. Accordingly, refresh operation needs to be frequently performed. An increase in frequency of refresh operation increases power consumption of the semiconductor device.

Since the off-state current of the transistor 551 is extremely small in this embodiment, the holding period T_1 can be made extremely long. Further, the frequency of refresh operation can be reduced; thus, power consumption can be reduced. For example, in the case where a memory cell is formed using the transistor 551 having an off-state current of 1×10⁻²¹ A to 1×10⁻²⁵ A, data can be held for several days to several decades without supply of electric power.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device with high degree of integration and low power consumption can be provided.

Next, a semiconductor device having a structure different from that of the semiconductor device in FIGS. 15A to 15D is described with reference to FIGS. 16A to 16C. FIG. 16A is a circuit diagram showing a memory cell and wirings included in the semiconductor device. FIG. 16B is a graph showing the electric characteristics of the memory cell in FIG. 16A. FIG. 16C is an example of a cross-sectional view corresponding to the memory cell in FIG. 16A.

As shown in FIG. 16A, the memory cell includes a transistor 671, a transistor 672, and a capacitor 673. Here, a gate of the transistor 671 is electrically connected to a word line 676. A source of the transistor 671 is electrically connected to a source line 674. A drain of the transistor 671 is electrically connected to a gate of the transistor 672 and one terminal of the capacitor 673. A portion where the drain of the transistor 671 is electrically connected to the gate of the transistor 672 and the one terminal of the capacitor 673 is referred to as a node 679. A source of the transistor 672 is electrically connected to a source line 675. A drain of the transistor 672 is electrically connected to a drain line 677. The other terminal of the capacitor 673 is electrically connected to a capacitor line 678.

The semiconductor device illustrated in FIGS. 16A to 16C utilizes variation in the apparent threshold voltage of the transistor 672, which depends on the potential of the node 679. For example, FIG. 16B shows a relation between a voltage V_(CL), of the capacitor line 678 and a drain current I_(d) _(—) 2 flowing through the transistor 672.

The potential of the node 679 can be controlled through the transistor 671. For example, the potential of the source line 674 is set to a power supply potential VDD. In this case, when the potential of the word line 676 is set to be higher than or equal to a potential obtained by adding the power supply potential VDD to the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor 671, the potential of the node 679 can be HIGH. Further, when the potential of the word line 676 is set to be lower than or equal to the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor 671, the potential of the node 679 can be LOW.

Thus, the transistor 672 has electric characteristics shown with either a V_(CL)−I_(d) _(—) 2 curve denoted as LOW or a V_(CL)−I_(d) _(—) 2 curve denoted as HIGH. That is, when the potential of the node 679 is LOW, I_(d) _(—) 2 is small at a V_(CL) of 0 V; accordingly, data 0 is stored. Further, when the potential of the node 679 is HIGH, I_(d) _(—) 2 is large at a V_(CL) of 0 V; accordingly, data 1 is stored. In this manner, data can be stored.

FIG. 16C illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of the memory cell. FIG. 16C is a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device including the transistor 672, an insulating film 668 over the transistor 672, the transistor 671 over the insulating film 668, an insulating film 620 over the transistor 671, and the capacitor 673 over the insulating film 620.

The insulating film 620 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide. Alternatively, a resin film of a polyimide resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, or the like may be used as the insulating film 620.

Note that in FIG. 16C, the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C is used as the transistor 671. Therefore, for components of the transistor 671 which are not particularly described below, refer to the description in the above embodiment.

The transistor including crystalline silicon has an advantage that on-state characteristics can be improved more easily than a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film. Therefore, it can be said that the transistor including crystalline silicon is suitable for the transistor 672 for which excellent on-state characteristics are required.

Here, the transistor 672 includes the channel region 656 and impurity regions 657 which are provided in the semiconductor substrate 650, the element isolation layer 664 which fills a groove portion provided in the semiconductor substrate 650, the gate insulating film 662 provided over the semiconductor substrate 650, and the gate electrode 654 provided over the channel region 656 with the gate insulating film 662 therebetween. For the transistor 672, refer to the description of the transistor Tr1 a illustrated in FIG. 11B.

The gate insulating film 668 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide.

The insulating film 668 and the base insulating film 102 include an opening reaching the gate electrode 654 of the transistor 672. The drain electrode 116 b of the transistor 671 is in contact with the gate electrode 654 of the transistor 672 through the opening.

The capacitor 673 includes an electrode 626 in contact with the drain electrode 116 b, an electrode 628 overlapping with the electrode 626, and an insulating film 622 provided between the electrode 626 and the electrode 628.

For the electrode 626, refer to the description of the electrode 526.

For the electrode 628, refer to the description of the electrode 528.

Here, the source electrode 116 a in FIG. 16C is electrically connected to the source line 674 in FIG. 16A. The gate electrode 404 in FIG. 16C is electrically connected to the word line 676 in FIG. 16A. Further, the electrode 628 in FIG. 16C is electrically connected to the capacitor line 678 in FIG. 16A.

Note that although FIG. 16C shows an example where the transistor 671 and the capacitor 673 are provided in different layers, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this structure. For example, the transistor 671 and the capacitor 673 may be provided in the same plane. With such a structure, memory cells having similar structures can be disposed so as to overlap with each other, in which case, a large number of memory cells can be integrated in an area for one memory cell. Accordingly, the degree of integration of the semiconductor device can be improved.

Here, when any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment is used as the transistor 671, charge accumulated in the node 679 can be prevented from leaking through the transistor 671 because the off-state current of the transistor is extremely small. Therefore, data can be held for a long period. Further, a voltage necessary for writing data does not need to be high as compared to the case of a flash memory; thus, power consumption can be made lower and operation speed can be made higher.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device with high degree of integration and low power consumption can be provided.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 7

A central processing unit (CPU) can be formed with the use of any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment or any of the semiconductor devices including a memory element described in the above embodiment for at least part of the CPU.

FIG. 17A is a block diagram illustrating a specific structure of a CPU. The CPU illustrated in FIG. 17A includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 1191, an ALU controller 1192, an instruction decoder 1193, an interrupt controller 1194, a timing controller 1195, a register 1196, a register controller 1197, a bus interface (Bus I/F) 1198, a rewritable ROM 1199, and an ROM interface (ROM I/F) 1189 over a substrate 1190. A semiconductor substrate, an SOI substrate, a glass substrate, or the like is used as the substrate 1190. The ROM 1199 and the ROM interface 1189 may be provided over a separate chip. Obviously, the CPU illustrated in FIG. 17A is just an example in which the configuration is simplified, and actual CPUs may have a variety of configurations depending on the application.

An instruction input to the CPU through the bus interface 1198 is input to the instruction decoder 1193, decoded therein, and then input to the ALU controller 1192, the interrupt controller 1194, the register controller 1197, and the timing controller 1195.

The ALU controller 1192, the interrupt controller 1194, the register controller 1197, and the timing controller 1195 conduct a variety of controls in accordance with the decoded instruction. Specifically, the ALU controller 1192 generates signals for controlling the operation of the ALU 1191. While the CPU is executing a program, the interrupt controller 1194 processes an interrupt request from an external input/output device or a peripheral circuit on the basis of its priority or a mask state. The register controller 1197 generates an address of the register 1196, and reads/writes data from/to the register 1196 in accordance with the state of the CPU.

The timing controller 1195 generates signals for controlling operation timings of the ALU 1191, the ALU controller 1192, the instruction decoder 1193, the interrupt controller 1194, and the register controller 1197. For example, the timing controller 1195 includes an internal clock generator for generating an internal clock signal CLK2 based on a reference clock signal CLK1, and supplies the clock signal CLK2 to the above circuits.

In the CPU illustrated in FIG. 17A, a memory element is provided in the register 1196. For the register 1196, any of the semiconductor devices including a memory element described in the above embodiment can be used.

In the CPU illustrated in FIG. 17A, the register controller 1197 selects operation of retaining data in the register 1196 in accordance with an instruction from the ALU 1191. That is, the register controller 1197 selects whether data is retained by a flip flop or a capacitor in the memory element included in the register 1196. When data is retained by the flip flop, a power supply voltage is supplied to the memory element in the register 1196. When data is retained by the capacitor, the data in the capacitor is rewritten, and supply of the power supply voltage to the memory element in the register 1196 can be stopped.

A switching element provided between a memory element group and a node to which a power supply potential VDD or a power supply potential VSS is supplied, as illustrated in FIG. 17B or FIG. 17C, allows the power supply to be stopped. Circuits illustrated in FIGS. 17B and 17C are described below.

FIGS. 17B and 17C each illustrate an example of a structure including any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment as a switching element for controlling supply of a power supply potential to a memory element.

The memory device illustrated in FIG. 17B includes a switching element 1141 and a memory element group 1143 including a plurality of memory elements 1142. Specifically, as each of the memory elements 1142, any of the semiconductor devices including a memory element described in the above embodiment can be used. Each of the memory elements 1142 included in the memory element group 1143 is supplied with the high-level power supply potential VDD through the switching element 1141. Further, each of the memory elements 1142 included in the memory element group 1143 is supplied with a potential of a signal IN and the low-level power supply potential VSS.

In FIG. 17B, as the switching element 1141, any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment is used. The transistors can have extremely low off-state current. The switching of the transistor is controlled by a signal SigA input to a gate thereof.

Note that FIG. 17B illustrates the structure in which the switching element 1141 includes only one transistor; however, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. The switching element 1141 may include a plurality of transistors. In the case where the switching element 1141 includes a plurality of transistors functioning as switching elements, the plurality of transistors may be connected to each other in parallel, in series, or in combination of parallel connection and series connection.

FIG. 17C shows an example of a memory device in which each of the memory elements 1142 included in the memory element group 1143 is supplied with the low-level power supply potential VSS through the switching element 1141. The supply of the low-level power supply potential VSS to each of the memory elements 1142 included in the memory element group 1143 can be controlled by the switching element 1141.

When a switching element is provided between a memory element group and a node to which the power supply potential VDD or the power supply potential VSS is supplied, data can be retained even in the case where an operation of a CPU is temporarily stopped and the supply of the power supply voltage is stopped; accordingly, power consumption can be reduced. For example, while a user of a personal computer does not input data to an input device such as a keyboard, the operation of the CPU can be stopped, so that the power consumption can be reduced.

Although the CPU is given as an example here, the transistor and the semiconductor device can also be applied to an LSI such as a digital signal processor (DSP), a custom LSI, or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 8

In this embodiment, a display device to which any of the transistors described in the above embodiment is applied will be described.

As a display element provided in the display device, a liquid crystal element (also referred to as a liquid crystal display element), a light-emitting element (also referred to as a light-emitting display element), or the like can be used. A light-emitting element includes, in its category, an element whose luminance is controlled by current or voltage, and specifically an inorganic electroluminescent (EL) element, an organic EL element, and the like. Furthermore, a display medium whose contrast is changed by an electric effect, such as electronic ink, can be used as the display element. In this embodiment, a display device including an EL element and a display device including a liquid crystal element will be described as examples of the display device.

Note that the display device in this embodiment includes in its category a panel in which a display element is sealed, and a module in which an IC such as a controller is mounted on the panel.

Additionally, the display device in this embodiment refers to an image display device, a display device, or a light source (including a lighting device). The display device includes any of the following modules in its category: a module provided with a connector such as an FPC or TCP; a module in which a printed wiring board is provided at the end of TCP; and a module in which an integrated circuit (IC) is mounted directly on a display element by a COG method.

FIG. 18A is an example of a circuit diagram of the display device including an EL element.

The display device illustrated in FIG. 18A includes a switching element 743, a transistor 741, a capacitor 742, and a light-emitting element 719.

A gate of the transistor 741 is electrically connected to one terminal of the switch element 743 and one terminal of the capacitor 742. A source of the transistor 741 is electrically connected to one terminal of the light-emitting element 719. A drain of the transistor 741 is electrically connected to the other terminal of the capacitor 742 and is supplied with a power supply potential VDD. The other terminal of the switch element 743 is electrically connected to a signal line 744. The other terminal of the light-emitting element 719 is supplied with a fixed potential. Note that the fixed potential is a ground potential GND or lower.

As the transistor 741, any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment is used. The transistor has favorable switching characteristics. Consequently, a display device having high display quality can be obtained.

As the switching element 743, it is preferred to use a transistor. With a transistor, the area of a pixel can be reduced, so that a display device having a high resolution can be obtained. Moreover, as the switching element 743, any of the transistors including an oxide semiconductor film described in the above embodiment may be used. With the use of the transistor as the switching element 743, the switching element 743 can be formed in the same process as the transistor 741; thus, the productivity of the display device can be improved.

FIG. 18B illustrates part of a cross section of a pixel including the transistor 741, the capacitor 742, and the light-emitting element 719.

Note that FIG. 18B shows an example where the transistor 741 and the capacitor 742 are provided in the same plane. With such a structure, the capacitor 742 can be formed in the same plane as a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, and a source electrode (drain electrode), which are included in the transistor 741. When the transistor 741 and the capacitor 742 are provided in the same plane in this manner, the number of manufacturing steps of the display device can be reduced; thus, the productivity can be increased.

In FIG. 18B, the transistor 741 has a structure in which a protective insulating film 318 is included in the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C. Thus, for components of the transistor 741 which are not particularly described below, refer to the description in the above embodiment. Note that for the protective insulating film 318, refer to the description of the base insulating film 102.

An insulating film 720 is provided over the transistor 741 and the capacitor 742.

Here, an opening reaching the source electrode 316 a of the transistor 741 is provided in the insulating film 720 and the protective insulating film 318.

An electrode 781 is provided over the insulating film 720. The electrode 781 is connected to the source electrode 316 a of the transistor 741 through the opening provided in the insulating film 720 and the protective insulating film 318.

A partition 784 having an opening reaching the electrode 781 is provided over the electrode 781.

A light-emitting layer 782 in contact with the electrode 781 through the opening provided in the partition 784 is provided over the partition 784.

An electrode 783 is provided over the light-emitting layer 782.

A region where the electrode 781, the light-emitting layer 782, and the electrode 783 overlap with one another serves as the light-emitting element 719.

The insulating film 720 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide. Alternatively, a resin film of a polyimide resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, or the like may be used.

The light-emitting layer 782 is not limited to a single layer, and may be a stack of plural kinds of light-emitting layers and the like. For example, a structure illustrated in FIG. 18C may be employed. FIG. 18C illustrates the structure in which an intermediate layer 785 a, a light-emitting layer 786 a, an intermediate layer 785 b, a light-emitting layer 786 b, an intermediate layer 785 c, a light-emitting layer 786 c, and an intermediate layer 785 d are stacked in this order. In that case, when light-emitting layers emitting light of appropriate colors are used as the light-emitting layer 786 a, the light-emitting layer 786 b, and the light-emitting layer 786 c, the light-emitting element 719 with a high color rendering property or higher luminous efficiency can be formed.

White light may be obtained by stacking plural kinds of light-emitting layers. Although not illustrated in FIG. 18B, white light may be extracted through coloring layers.

Although the structure in which three light-emitting layers and four intermediate layers are provided is shown here, the number of light-emitting layers and the number of intermediate layers can be changed as appropriate. For example, the light-emitting layer 782 can be formed with only the intermediate layer 785 a, the light-emitting layer 786 a, the intermediate layer 785 b, the light-emitting layer 786 b, and the intermediate layer 785 c. Alternatively, the light-emitting layer 782 may be formed with the intermediate layer 785 a, the light-emitting layer 786 a, the intermediate layer 785 b, the light-emitting layer 786 b, the light-emitting layer 786 c, and the intermediate layer 785 d; the intermediate layer 785 c may be omitted.

Further, the intermediate layer can be formed using a stacked-layer structure including any of a hole-injection layer, a hole-transport layer, an electron-transport layer, an electron-injection layer, and the like. Note that not all of these layers need to be provided as the intermediate layer. Any of these layers may be selected as appropriate to form the intermediate layer. Note that layers having similar functions may be provided. Further, an electron-relay layer or the like may be added as appropriate as the intermediate layer, in addition to a carrier generation layer.

The electrode 781 can be formed using a conductive film having a transmitting property with respect to visible light. To have a transmitting property with respect to visible light means that the average transmittance of light in a visible light region (for example, a wavelength range from 400 nm to 800 nm) is higher than or equal to 70%, particularly higher than or equal to 80%.

As the electrode 781, for example, an oxide film such as an In—Zn—W oxide film, an In—Sn oxide film, an In—Zn oxide film, an In oxide film, a Zn oxide film, or a Sn oxide film may be used. The above oxide film may contain a minute amount of Al, Ga, Sb, F, or the like. Further, a metal thin film having a thickness enough to transmit light (preferably, approximately 5 nm to 30 nm) can also be used. For example, an Ag film, a Mg film, or an Ag—Mg alloy film with a thickness of 5 nm may be used.

The electrode 781 is preferred to be a film which efficiently reflects visible light. For example, a film containing lithium, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, lanthanum, silver, silicon, or nickel can be used as the electrode 781.

The electrode 783 can be formed using any of the films for the electrode 781. Note that when the electrode 781 has a transmitting property with respect to visible light, it is preferred that the electrode 783 efficiently reflect visible light. When the electrode 781 efficiently reflects visible light, it is preferred that the electrode 783 have a transmitting property with respect to visible light.

Positions of the electrode 781 and the electrode 783 are not limited to the structure illustrated in FIG. 18B, and the electrode 781 and the electrode 783 may be replaced with each other. It is preferred to use a conductive film having a high work function for the electrode which serves as an anode and a conductive film having a low work function for the electrode which serves as a cathode. Note that in the case where a carrier generation layer is provided in contact with the anode, a variety of conductive films can be used for the anode regardless of their work functions.

The partition 784 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide. Alternatively, a resin film of a polyimide resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, or the like may be used.

The transistor 741 connected to the light-emitting element 719 has excellent on-state characteristics and stable electric characteristics. Therefore, a display device having high display quality can be provided.

Next, the display device including a liquid crystal element is described.

FIG. 19A is a circuit diagram illustrating a structure example of the pixel of the display device including a liquid crystal element. A pixel 750 illustrated in FIG. 19A includes a transistor 751, a capacitor 752, and an element in which a space between a pair of electrodes is filled with liquid crystal (hereinafter also referred to as a liquid crystal element) 753.

One of a source and a drain of the transistor 751 is electrically connected to a signal line 755, and a gate of the transistor 751 is electrically connected to a scan line 754.

One of electrodes of the capacitor 752 is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor 751, and the other of the electrodes of the capacitor 752 is electrically connected to a wiring for supplying a common potential.

One of electrodes of the liquid crystal element 753 is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor 751, and the other of the electrodes of the liquid crystal element 753 is electrically connected to a wiring for supplying a common potential. Note that the common potential supplied to the other of the electrodes of the liquid crystal element 753 may be different from the common potential supplied to the wiring electrically connected to the other of the electrodes of the capacitor 752.

FIG. 19B illustrates part of a cross section of the pixel 750.

Note that FIG. 19B shows an example where the transistor 751 and the capacitor 752 are provided in the same plane. With such a structure, the capacitor 752 can be formed in the same plane as a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, and a source electrode (drain electrode), which are included in the transistor 751. When the transistor 751 and the capacitor 752 are provided in the same plane in this manner, the number of manufacturing steps of the display device can be reduced; thus, the productivity can be increased.

As the transistor 751, any of the transistors described in the above embodiment can be used. In FIG. 19B, the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C is used as the transistor 751. Thus, for components of the transistor 751 which are not particularly described below, refer to the description in the above embodiment. Note that the transistor 751 has a structure in which the protective insulating film 318 is added to the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C.

Note that the transistor 751 can be a transistor having extremely low off-state current. Thus, charge held in the capacitor 752 is unlikely to leak and a voltage applied to the liquid crystal element 753 can be retained for a long time. Accordingly, when a motion image with less movement or a still image is displayed, power for operating the transistor 751 is not needed by turning off the transistor 751, whereby a display device with low power consumption can be obtained.

An insulating film 721 is provided over the transistor 751 and the capacitor 752.

Here, an opening reaching the drain electrode 316 b of the transistor 751 is provided in the insulating film 721 and the protective insulating film 318.

An electrode 791 is provided over the insulating film 721. The electrode 791 is in contact with the drain electrode 316 b of the transistor 751 through the opening provided in the insulating film 721 and the protective insulating film 318.

An insulating film 792 serving as an alignment film is provided over the electrode 791.

A liquid crystal layer 793 is provided over the insulating film 792.

An insulating film 794 serving as an alignment film is provided over the liquid crystal layer 793.

A spacer 795 is provided over the insulating film 794.

An electrode 796 is provided over the spacer 795 and the insulating film 794.

A substrate 797 is provided over the electrode 796.

The insulating film 721 may be formed of a single layer or a stacked layer using an insulating film containing one or more of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, germanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide, hafnium oxide, and tantalum oxide. Alternatively, a resin film of a polyimide resin, an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, or the like may be used.

For the liquid crystal layer 793, a thermotropic liquid crystal, a low-molecular liquid crystal, a polymer liquid crystal, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, a ferroelectric liquid crystal, an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal, or the like can be used. Such a liquid crystal material exhibits a cholesteric phase, a smectic phase, a cubic phase, a chiral nematic phase, an isotropic phase, or the like depending on conditions.

For the liquid crystal layer 793, a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase may be used. In that case, the insulating films 792 and 794 serving as an alignment film are not necessarily.

The electrode 791 can be formed using a conductive film having a transmitting property with respect to visible light.

As the electrode 791, for example, an oxide film such as an In—Zn—W oxide film, an In—Sn oxide film, an In—Zn oxide film, an In oxide film, a Zn oxide film, or a Sn oxide film may be used. The above oxide film may contain a minute amount of Al, Ga, Sb, F, or the like. Further, a metal thin film having a thickness enough to transmit light (preferably, approximately 5 nm to 30 nm) can also be used.

The electrode 791 is preferred to be a film which efficiently reflects visible light. For example, a film containing aluminum, titanium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, silver, tantalum, or tungsten can be used as the electrode 791.

The electrode 796 can be formed using any of the films for the electrode 791. Note that when the electrode 791 has a transmitting property with respect to visible light, it is preferred that the electrode 796 efficiently reflect visible light. When the electrode 791 efficiently reflects visible light, it is preferred that the electrode 796 have a transmitting property with respect to visible light.

Positions of the electrode 791 and the electrode 796 are not limited to the structure illustrated in FIG. 19B, and the electrode 791 and the electrode 796 may be replaced with each other.

Each of the insulating films 792 and 794 may be formed using an organic compound or an inorganic compound.

The spacer 795 may be formed using an organic compound or an inorganic compound. Note that the spacer 795 can have a variety of shapes such as a columnar shape and a spherical shape.

A region where the electrode 791, the insulating film 792, the liquid crystal layer 793, the insulating film 794, and the electrode 796 overlap with one another serves as the liquid crystal element 753.

As the substrate 797, a glass substrate, a resin substrate, a metal substrate, or the like can be used. The substrate 797 may have flexibility.

The transistor 751 connected to the liquid crystal element 753 has excellent on-state characteristics and stable electric characteristics. Therefore, a display device having high display quality can be provided. Since the transistor 751 can have extremely low off-state current, a display device with low power consumption can be provided.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Embodiment 9

In this embodiment, examples of an electronic device including any of the semiconductor devices described in the above embodiments will be described.

FIG. 20A illustrates a portable information terminal. The portable information terminal illustrated in FIG. 20A includes a housing 9300, a button 9301, a microphone 9302, a display portion 9303, a speaker 9304, and a camera 9305, and has a function as a mobile phone. One embodiment of the present invention can be applied to an arithmetic unit, a wireless circuit, or a memory circuit in a main body. One embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to the display portion 9303.

FIG. 20B illustrates a display. The display illustrated in FIG. 20B includes a housing 9310 and a display portion 9311. One embodiment of the present invention can be applied to an arithmetic unit, a wireless circuit, or a memory circuit in a main body. One embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to the display portion 9311.

FIG. 20C illustrates a digital still camera. The digital still camera illustrated in FIG. 20C includes a housing 9320, a button 9321, a microphone 9322, and a display portion 9323. One embodiment of the present invention can be applied to an arithmetic unit, a wireless circuit, or a memory circuit in a main body. One embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to the display portion 9323.

FIG. 20D illustrates a double-foldable portable information terminal. The double-foldable portable information terminal illustrated in FIG. 20D includes a housing 9630, a display portion 9631 a, a display portion 9631 b, a hinge 9633, and an operation switch 9638. One embodiment of the present invention can be applied to an arithmetic unit, a wireless circuit, or a memory circuit in a main body. One embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to the display portion 9631 a and the display portion 9631 b.

Part or whole of the display portion 9631 a and/or the display portion 9631 b can function as a touch panel. By touching an operation key displayed on the touch panel, a user can input data, for example.

With the use of a semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device with high performance and low power consumption can be provided.

This embodiment can be implemented in appropriate combination with any of the other embodiments and examples.

Example 1

This example describes an example in which a process for increasing the resistance of an oxide semiconductor film is performed.

A method for forming samples is described below.

First, a glass substrate was prepared.

Then a silicon oxide film was formed to a thickness of 300 nm.

Next, a CMP process was performed to reduce roughness of the top surface of the silicon oxide film and to planarize the surface of the silicon oxide film.

Subsequently, an aluminum oxide film was formed to a thickness of 10 nm.

After that, a first oxide semiconductor film was formed to a thickness of 10 nm, 15 nm, or 30 nm. The first oxide semiconductor film was formed by a sputtering method using an In—Ga—Zn oxide (In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) target under the following conditions: a flow rate of an oxygen gas was 45 sccm, the pressure was controlled to 0.4 Pa, the distance between a substrate and the target was 60 mm, the substrate temperature was 300° C., and a power of 0.5 kW (DC) was applied.

Alternatively, a second oxide semiconductor film was formed to a thickness of 5 nm, 10 nm, 15 nm, or 30 nm. The second oxide semiconductor film was formed by a sputtering method using an In—Sn—Zn oxide (In:Sn:Zn=1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) target under the following conditions: a flow rate of an oxygen gas was 50 sccm, the pressure was controlled to 0.4 Pa, the distance between a substrate and the target was 60 mm, the substrate temperature was 200° C., and a power of 0.5 kW (DC) was applied.

Next, the formed samples were subjected to a laser process. The laser process was performed with an excimer laser which emits light having an emission wavelength of 308 nm, with an energy density greater than or equal to 120.9 mJ/cm² and less than or equal to 700.4 mJ/cm².

FIGS. 21A and 21B show relations between the energy density and the sheet resistance of the samples after the laser process. The sheet resistance was measured by a four-probe method. Note that in FIGS. 21A and 21B, hollow circles are plots of the sample including a 5-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film (not found in FIG. 21A), solid circles are plots of the sample including a 10-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film, hollow triangles are plots of the sample including a 15-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film, and solid triangles are plots of the sample including a 30-nm-thick oxide semiconductor film. FIG. 21A shows the relations between the energy density and the sheet resistance of the samples including the first oxide semiconductor film, and FIG. 21B show the relations between the energy density and the sheet resistance of the samples including the second oxide semiconductor film.

FIGS. 21A and 21B show that it is possible to reduce the sheet resistance of the oxide semiconductor film by adjusting the energy density of the laser process.

Then, the crystal states of samples in which an oxide semiconductor film was subjected to a laser process were evaluated. The crystal state was evaluated by an X-ray diffraction (XRD) and with a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

The XRD measurement was conducted using an X-ray diffractometer D8 ADVANCE manufactured by Bruker AXS, and the measurement was performed by an out-of-plane method. Note that H-9000NAR manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd was used as the TEM.

A method for forming samples is described below.

First, a glass substrate was prepared.

Then a silicon oxide film was formed to a thickness of 300 nm

Subsequently, an aluminum oxide film was formed to a thickness of 20 nm.

After that, an oxide semiconductor film was formed to a thickness of 30 nm. The oxide semiconductor film was formed by a sputtering method using an In—Ga—Zn oxide (In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) target under the following conditions: a flow rate of an argon gas was 30 sccm and a flow rate of an oxygen gas was 15 sccm, the pressure was controlled to 0.4 Pa, the distance between a substrate and the target was 60 mm, the substrate temperature was 300° C., and a power of 0.5 kW (DC) was applied.

Next, the formed samples were subjected to a laser process. The laser process was performed with an excimer laser which emits light having an emission wavelength of 308 nm, with an energy density of 140 mJ/cm², 201 mJ/cm², 300 mJ/cm², 349 mJ/cm², or 451 mJ/cm².

Next, the samples were measured by XRD. The results are shown in FIG. 22. Note that in FIG. 22, a curve 4001, a curve 4002, a curve 4003, a curve 4004, and a curve 4005 are for the samples obtained with energy densities of 140 mJ/cm², 201 mJ/cm², 300 mJ/cm², 349 mJ/cm², and 451 mJ/cm², respectively.

In FIG. 22, no particular peak of diffraction intensity can be seen for the samples obtained with energy densities of 140 mJ/cm² and 201 mJ/cm². Meanwhile, a peak of diffraction intensity of the (0 0 9) plane can be seen for the sample obtained with an energy density of 300 mJ/cm². Further, peaks of diffraction intensity of the (0 0 6) plane, the (0 0 9) plane, the (0 0 12) plane, the (0 0 15) plane, and the (0 0 18) plane can be seen for the sample obtained with an energy density of 349 mJ/cm²; the peak of diffraction intensity of the (0 0 9) plane is particularly high. In addition, peaks of diffraction intensity of the (0 0 6) plane and the (0 0 9) plane can be seen for the sample obtained with an energy density of 451 mJ/cm². Note that the peaks of diffraction intensity of the (0 0 6) plane, the (0 0 9) plane, the (0 0 12) plane, the (0 0 15) plane, and the (0 0 18) plane exist where 2θ=20.42°, 2θ=30.84°, 2θ=41.52°, 2θ=52.62°, and 2θ=64.23°, respectively.

Then, transmitted electron (TE) images (also referred to as TEM images) of cross sections of the same samples were observed with a TEM. Note that the acceleration voltage was 300 kV and the magnification was 4000000 times. The results are shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, FIGS. 24A and 24B, and FIGS. 25A and 25B. FIG. 23A, FIG. 23B, FIG. 24A, FIG. 24B, and FIG. 25A show the results of the samples obtained with energy densities of 140 mJ/cm², 201 mJ/cm², 300 mJ/cm², 349 mJ/cm², and 451 mJ/cm², respectively.

FIGS. 23A and 23B show that oxide semiconductor films in the samples obtained with energy densities of 140 mJ/cm² and 201 mJ/cm² are amorphous. FIG. 24A shows that an oxide semiconductor film in the sample obtained with an energy density of 300 mJ/cm² is crystallized. FIG. 24B shows that an oxide semiconductor film in the sample obtained with an energy density of 349 mJ/cm² is crystallized. This sample is polycrystalline. FIGS. 25A and 25B show that an oxide semiconductor film in the sample obtained with an energy density of 451 mJ/cm² is crystallized. The crystallinity of this sample is lower than that of the sample obtained with an energy density of 349 mJ/cm². Note that FIG. 25B is a TE image of the observation portion in FIG. 25A observed with a magnification of 2000000 times. As can be seen in FIG. 25B, a mixed layer of a silicon oxynitride film, an aluminum oxide film, and an oxide semiconductor film is formed in the sample obtained with an energy density of 451 mJ/cm².

From the above, it is found that an increase in energy density of a laser process enables an oxide semiconductor film to be crystallized. However, it is also found that too high energy density of a laser process causes a reduction in crystallinity and formation of a mixed region of the oxide semiconductor film and a base film. Accordingly, it is important that a laser process needs to be performed with an appropriate energy density to increase the crystallinity of an oxide semiconductor film.

Comparisons of the sheet resistance and the crystal states of oxide semiconductor films give that the sheet resistance of the oxide semiconductor film is reduced because the oxide semiconductor film is crystallized. The comparisons also give that too high energy density of a laser process causes a reduction in crystallinity and formation of a mixed region of the oxide semiconductor film and a base film, resulting in an increase in sheet resistance.

Example 2

This example describes an example in which a process for increasing the resistance of an oxide semiconductor film whose resistance is reduced by a laser process is performed.

A method for forming samples is described below.

First, a glass substrate was prepared.

Then a silicon oxide film was formed to a thickness of 300 nm.

Subsequently, an aluminum oxide film was formed to a thickness of 10 nm.

After that, a first oxide semiconductor film was formed to a thickness of 30 nm. The first oxide semiconductor film was formed by a sputtering method using an In—Ga—Zn oxide (In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) target under the following conditions: a flow rate of an oxygen gas was 45 sccm, the pressure was controlled to 0.4 Pa, the distance between a substrate and the target was 60 mm, the substrate temperature was 300° C., and a power of 0.5 kW (DC) was applied.

Alternatively, a second oxide semiconductor film was formed to a thickness of 15 nm. The second oxide semiconductor film was formed by a sputtering method using an In—Sn—Zn oxide (In:Sn:Zn=2:1:3 [atomic ratio]) target under the following conditions: a flow rate of an oxygen gas was 50 sccm, the pressure was controlled to 0.4 Pa, the distance between a substrate and the target was 60 mm, the substrate temperature was 200° C., and a power of 0.5 kW (DC) was applied.

Next, the formed samples were subjected to a laser process. The laser process was performed with an excimer laser which emits light having an emission wavelength of 308 nm. The sample including the first oxide semiconductor film was obtained with an energy density of 391 mJ/cm² and the sample including the second oxide semiconductor film was obtained with an energy density of 298 mJ/cm².

Other formed samples were subjected to heat treatment. The samples were heated at 450° C. in a nitrogen gas atmosphere for one hour and then heated at 450° C. in an oxygen gas atmosphere for one hour.

Then, the oxide semiconductor film was processed to form an island-shaped oxide semiconductor film.

After that, a silicon oxynitride film was formed to a thickness of 100 nm.

Some of the samples were implanted with oxygen ions. The oxygen ions were implanted at an acceleration voltage of 25 kV with a dosage of 1×10¹⁶ ions/cm².

Next, an aluminum oxide film was formed to a thickness of 50 nm.

Subsequently, a silicon oxynitride film was formed to a thickness of 300 nm.

Then, the 100-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film, the 50-nm-thick aluminum oxide film, and the 300-nm-thick silicon oxynitride film were processed so that part of the oxide semiconductor film was exposed.

After that, a titanium film was formed to a thickness of 300 nm.

Next, the titanium film was processed so that a pair of electrodes at least partly in contact with the oxide semiconductor film was formed.

Subsequently, the formed samples were subjected to heat treatment. The samples were heated at 300° C. in an air atmosphere for one hour.

Then, the resistance between the electrodes formed using a titanium film was measured. Note that the electrodes were provided apart from each other. Since the pair of electrodes was formed using a titanium film, the resistance thereof was sufficiently lower than that of the oxide semiconductor film; thus, the resistance between the electrodes was almost the same as that of the oxide semiconductor film.

A region of the oxide semiconductor film which was between the electrodes had a width of 69100 μm and the distance between the electrodes of 3 μm, 10 μm, 50 μm, 100 μm, 200 μm, or 500 μm. Then, the resistance was measured at six points in one sample. Next, the distance between the electrodes and the resistance measured at six points were plotted on the lateral axis and the vertical axis, respectively. After that, the slope of a straight line obtained by linear approximation of the plots was multiplied by the electrode width (69100 μm) to obtain the sheet resistance.

FIG. 26 shows the sheet resistance of each sample and compares the samples with and without oxygen ion implantation. In FIG. 26, a hollow bar represents the sheet resistance of the sample including the first oxide semiconductor film, and a shaded bar represents the sheet resistance of the sample including the second oxide semiconductor film.

FIG. 26 shows that the resistivity of the oxide semiconductor film which is reduced by the laser process increases by the implantation of oxygen ions in all the samples.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application serial no. 2012-123951 filed with Japan Patent Office on May 31, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: forming an oxide semiconductor layer over an insulating surface; performing a first treatment so that a resistance of the oxide semiconductor layer is reduced; and performing a second treatment after performing the first treatment so that a resistance of only a region in the oxide semiconductor layer is increased, wherein the first treatment is performed before forming any layer over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer.
 2. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the region is a channel region of a transistor.
 3. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: forming a pair of electrodes over the oxide semiconductor layer after performing the first treatment; forming an insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer and the pair of electrodes after performing the second treatment; and forming a gate electrode over the insulating layer, wherein the region does not overlap with the pair of electrodes.
 4. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer after performing the first treatment; forming a sacrificial layer overlapping with a part of the oxide semiconductor layer with the first insulating layer interposed therebetween; forming a second insulating layer over the sacrificial layer; removing a part of the second insulating layer and a part of the sacrificial layer so that a top surface of the sacrificial layer is exposed and the top surface of the sacrificial layer is substantially flush with a top surface of the rest of the second insulating layer; removing the sacrificial layer, thereby forming a third insulating layer which does not cover a part of the first insulating layer; performing the second treatment after removing the sacrificial layer; forming a conductive layer over the first insulating layer and the third insulating layer after performing the second treatment; and forming a gate electrode by processing the conductive layer so that a top surface of the third insulating layer is exposed and a top surface of the processed conductive layer is substantially flush with the top surface of the third insulating layer, wherein the region does not overlap with the third insulating layer.
 5. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: forming a gate electrode; forming an insulating layer comprising the insulating surface over the gate electrode; forming the oxide semiconductor layer over the insulating surface; and forming a pair of electrodes over the oxide semiconductor layer after performing the first treatment, wherein the region does not overlap with the pair of electrodes.
 6. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a laser process is performed in the first treatment.
 7. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein heat treatment at a temperature higher than or equal to 450° C. and lower than or equal to 740° C. is performed in the first treatment.
 8. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein plasma oxidation or implantation of oxygen ions is performed in the second treatment.
 9. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a fourth insulating layer comprising the insulating surface, wherein the fourth insulating layer contains excess oxygen.
 10. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a fifth insulating layer over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer after performing the first treatment, wherein the fifth insulating layer contains excess oxygen.
 11. A semiconductor device comprising: a gate electrode; an insulating layer in contact with the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the gate electrode with the insulating layer interposed therebetween; and a pair of electrodes over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer includes: a first region that overlaps with the pair of electrodes; and a second region that does not overlap with the pair of electrodes, and wherein a crystallinity of the first region is higher than a crystallinity of the second region.
 12. The semiconductor device according to claim 11, wherein the first region includes a polycrystalline oxide semiconductor.
 13. The semiconductor device according to claim 11, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer includes a crystal part, and wherein a c-axis of the crystal part is aligned in a direction substantially parallel to a normal vector of a surface on which the oxide semiconductor layer is formed.
 14. The semiconductor device according to claim 11, wherein the insulating layer contains excess oxygen.
 15. An electronic device comprising the semiconductor device according to claim
 11. 16. A semiconductor device comprising: an oxide semiconductor layer; an insulating layer over the oxide semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode over the insulating layer, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer includes: a first region that overlaps with the gate electrode; and a second region that does not overlap with the gate electrode, and wherein a crystallinity of the second region is higher than a crystallinity of the first region.
 17. The semiconductor device according to claim 16, wherein the first region includes a polycrystalline oxide semiconductor.
 18. The semiconductor device according to claim 16, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer includes a crystal part, and wherein a c-axis of the crystal part is aligned in a direction substantially parallel to a normal vector of a surface on which the oxide semiconductor layer is formed.
 19. The semiconductor device according to claim 16, wherein the insulating layer contains excess oxygen.
 20. An electronic device comprising the semiconductor device according to claim
 16. 